Lessons learnt about implementing LEGO based therapy (Play Brick Therapy) based on fidelity data and experience from...

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Educational Interventions
• Autism Spectrum Disorder Research

Background:

• LEGO® based therapy is a social skills program for autistic children and young people.
• The program involves collaborative LEGO® building sessions guided by adults.
• This study evaluates the implementation of LEGO® based therapy in a school setting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the fidelity of LEGO® based therapy delivery in a school-based randomized controlled trial.
• To identify areas for improvement in the implementation of the LEGO® based therapy program.
• To assess the feasibility and adherence to the LEGO® based therapy protocol.

Main Methods:

• The I-SOCIALISE trial involved 98 schools randomly assigned to LEGO® based therapy or usual care.
• LEGO® based therapy sessions were conducted weekly for 12 weeks in small groups.
• Fidelity was measured using self-reported checklists and video analysis, supplemented by researcher insights.

Main Results:

• LEGO® based therapy demonstrated high fidelity in delivery, with most groups receiving the intended dose of sessions.
• Over 90% of sessions incorporated core elements like group building and social interaction.
• Discrepancies were noted between facilitator and reviewer assessments regarding specific program components.

Conclusions:

• LEGO® based therapy was implemented with high fidelity in a large school trial.
• Areas for enhancement include facilitator training duration and emphasizing social interaction over task completion.
• Future research should investigate participant experiences and refine the theoretical underpinnings of the therapy.